Sven Spollen Behrens, 54, a former lobbyist, pleaded guilty to stealing €10,250 from Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District on 16 June 2017 and another €10,250 from Sandyford Business Improvement District in August 2017. The court, hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, struck out the remaining counts and will consider sentencing on a full facts basis. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the sentencing to 16 January next year, when the evidence will be heard.
Paul Boyle, 45, was arrested after an off‑duty Garda spotted him taking intimate photographs of a Luas passenger. A search of his phone revealed 40,000 images of women and girls, including up‑skirt shots of schoolgirls. A subsequent warrant uncovered over half a million images on a flash drive, with 275,800 depicting women's groins and buttocks, taken between June 2018 and January 2020. The same drive also contained a disturbing child‑pornography video showing an eight‑year‑old child bound and raped, a material first reported to Irish authorities in 2002. Boyle had prior convictions in Scotland. He pleaded guilty to harassment and possession of child pornography. The court sentenced him to three years for harassment and five years for possession, suspending the final two and a half years, and imposed two years of post‑release supervision and a ban on contact with victims.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 8 July 2022, Catherine Kirwan, aged 57, testified that her older brother, Paul Brothwood, 63, had repeatedly sexually assaulted her between 1973 and 1975 when she was aged nine to eleven and he was fourteen to sixteen. Kirwan described a life of fear, dread, and mental health difficulties, citing the abuse's impact on her relationships, marriage, and career prospects. She read a victim impact statement in which she said, "You, Paul, took my courage from me all those years ago. Today I take it back." Brothwood pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, the maximum penalty at the time being two years. The judge noted his remorse and cooperation, and the court added him to the Sex Offenders' Register. Kirwan's statement highlighted the long‑term trauma she endured, including severe depression, anxiety, and an attempted overdose.
Dylan Murphy, 26, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a taxi driver at Dolphins Barn, Dublin city, on September 20, 2019, as well as robbery and attempted robbery at St Stephen's Green on August 2, 2021. During the latter incident, Murphy allegedly posed as a garda to rob two teenagers, resulting in injuries to the male victim. Judge Pauline Codd described both attacks as vicious assaults. Acknowledging Murphy's tragic background and entrenched drug addiction, the judge imposed a total operative sentence of eight years. However, she suspended the final year to incentivise rehabilitation, conditional on Murphy engaging with the Probation Service and drug addiction treatment. The sentence was backdated to last March, when Murphy pleaded guilty to the offences. This decision follows his admission of guilt to the charges, which included his 65 previous convictions for robbery, burglary, and assaults.
In a 2020 home invasion, 25‑year‑old Gerry Connors and his 25‑year‑old brother Myles attacked Edward Babos, punching him, threatening with scissors, cutting his hair, and forcing him to strip. They searched Babos, took his car keys, and drove him in his own car, kicking and damaging it. Connors threatened Babos that police would kill him, yet Babos escaped to his home and called Gardaí. Connors later admitted the crime, travelled to the UK for three days, and returned to give a full confession. He pleaded guilty to a 2018 robbery and was sentenced to two years for robbery and four years for false imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, under probation supervision. Myles Connors received a five‑year sentence for assault, false imprisonment, and robbery. The court highlighted Connors' remorse and efforts at rehabilitation. The case underscores the severity of violent offences and the court's dual aim of punishment and deterrence.
Erin O'Brien, aged 25, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for a second sexual offence involving a nine‑year‑old boy. The offence, committed on 20 September 2018 when O'Brien was 22, involved showing child pornography, touching the boy's genitals, instructing the boy to touch O'Brien's penis, and offering the child money for anal sex, which the boy refused. O'Brien pleaded guilty to a single count of sexual assault. The 30‑month term will run concurrently with a five‑year sentence he is already serving for a similar offence against another child. The court noted the offer of cash as the most serious aggravating factor and highlighted the victim's changed state and ongoing counselling. O'Brien must comply with post‑release supervision, avoid contact with the victim, and refrain from unsupervised access to children. The sentence is back‑dated to the date of his guilty plea.
Barry Doyle, 40, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor to a fully suspended 12‑month imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw Stephen Bradley to the ground and kicked him in the Beacon Hotel bar, Sandyford, on 17 December 2018. Doyle repeatedly offered Bradley a drink, which Bradley declined, and when Bradley tried to stop the offers he showed a pricey whiskey on his phone. Doyle threw the phone back, threatened Bradley, and when Bradley walked into the kitchen and grabbed a ladle, Doyle and a friend tackled him, kicking until staff intervened. Doyle pleaded guilty and has engaged in restorative justice. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including a €500 payment to Bradley. Both men were intoxicated and there was no prior animosity. The court noted Doyle's early guilty plea during the pandemic.
Jacek Dziaczek, a 38‑year‑old former windscreen fitter, brought a High Court challenge against the Personal Injuries Assessment Board's €5,000 award for shoulder injuries sustained in a 2019 workplace accident. He argues the board failed to consider all medical evidence, specifically a third report submitted by his lawyers that contained additional details not present in the two reports the board reviewed. The board had deemed the injury minor and noted substantial recovery within six months to a year. Dziaczek's lawyers claim the board's decision lacks proportionality and does not comply with Personal Injuries Guidelines, and that the board did not provide adequate reasons for its award. He seeks judicial review to quash the award, remand the case for fresh consideration, and declarations that the board improperly exercised its discretion. The case was heard ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who allowed the challenge to proceed, with a full hearing scheduled for March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, four men—Rabah Rabai (20), Ibrahim Ouadria (21), Ishak Djebbari (22) and Hamen Guernane (21)—were found to have attacked a 16‑year‑old teenager who had witnessed the unlawful killing of their friend in May 2019. The victim was kicked and stamped on the head while on the ground, resulting in unconsciousness and injuries treated in an ambulance. The court noted that the teenager had previously testified as a witness in the 2020 trial of the unlawful killing and that three of the four accused were also witnesses to that death. All four pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sandyford Luas Stop on 22 June 2019. None had prior convictions. The judge remanded them on continuing bail, adjourned the case for finalisation on 28 April, and suggested the accused pay the victim a compensation of around €10,000.
In March 2020, 18‑year‑old Alan Clarke of Kilcross Lawn, Sandyford, punched a 19‑year‑old victim, James Coady, on the chin in Dublin city centre, causing Coady to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Clarke, who had taken cocaine and Xanax that day, had no prior acquaintance with the victim. CCTV showed Clarke also aimed a kick at Coady's stomach before punching him. The assault resulted in a skull fracture and brain bleed for Coady, who later suffered two epileptic seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy secondary to a traumatic brain injury. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at O'Connell Street and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment. Clarke had seven previous convictions, including robbery and aggravated burglary. The court noted the attack was "cowardly, unprovoked and sudden.".
In a 2021 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Myles Connors, aged 24, was sentenced for a 2020 false imprisonment and assault of Edward Babos, and a 2018 robbery. Connors and another man entered Babos's friend's home, partially stripped him, and used scissors to cut his hair while threatening him. They forced Babos into a car, drove at dangerous speeds, and attempted to extract money from an ATM. The assault lasted about an hour and involved threats to jam scissors in Babos's eyes. Connors also pleaded guilty to robbing a phone and €150 cash from a victim in 2018, where he pointed a knife at the victim's stomach. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault, a three‑year sentence for the robbery, to run consecutively, with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to May 2020 when Connors first entered custody.
Gerry O'Brien and Joanne O'Brien appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where both pleaded guilty to theft charges. Gerry O'Brien admitted to one count of stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques by deception from Beryl Tilson, then aged 77, at a Sandyford address between July 2017 and November 2018. He also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing €27,254 in cash and cheques by deception from Rosemary Fitzgerald, then aged 73, at a Blackrock address between August and November 2018. Joanne O'Brien pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from Ms Tilson on December 23, 2017, and July 12, 2018. The prosecution alleged the defendants used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to deceive the victims. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the matter to May 17 for sentencing. The court noted Gerry O'Brien has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel stated Gerry O'Brien was remorseful, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. It was also noted that Joanne O'Brien had repaid the €900 stolen from Ms Tilson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Caroline Connors, aged 34, threw a television from the second‑floor balcony of her apartment in Sandyford, Dublin, in what she described as a "moment of madness" triggered by her ex‑partner. The TV fell onto a grandmother who was walking hand‑in‑hand with her granddaughter across a pedestrian crossing. The grandmother sustained leg and chest injuries and was taken to hospital that day. Connors, who had been intoxicated at the time of arrest, pleaded guilty to endangerment at her address on 27 June 2018. She had two prior convictions for criminal damage and public order. The court heard that the grandmother feared she and her granddaughter might have been killed. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Connors to three years' imprisonment, suspending the entire term on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek O'Brien, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle after a patrol officer noticed a silver VW Polo driving on its rim with a missing tire. Garda Ronan Kennedy described the vehicle as sparking and swerving, and O'Brien admitted he had stolen the car keys from a house he had burgled earlier that evening. The burglary also involved a small amount of cash and a broken rear window. O'Brien claimed the damage was caused by the car hitting a path while he was driving. He has 91 prior convictions and has completed a detox programme. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 21 months imprisonment. The car was economically written off after the incident. The case was heard at Ailesbury Park, Ballsbridge. The court noted O'Brien's intent to complete his Leaving Cert while in custody.
In a High Court ruling on 23 July 2019, Mr Justice Allen dismissed a claim by Beacon One Management Company Ltd, which represents about 70 apartments in Block E of the Beacon Court development, against Beacon Leisure Investments Ltd, the operator of the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford Business Park. The management company had alleged that the hotel's owners had denied residents access to the hotel through interconnecting doors in the shared corridors, a practice that had existed for over a decade and allowed residents to use the hotel's gym. After the hotel changed hands in 2016, the new operator notified residents that direct access would be stopped except in emergencies. The court held that the lease agreements for the apartments did not confer a general right of access through the interconnecting doors, and that the hotel owner was entitled to restrict such use, except for emergency egress. Consequently, the claim was dismissed.
In 2017, Detective Sergeant Eve Doherty was convicted of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin by sending abusive letters and emails over an 18‑month period. The court found Doherty had called Howlin "corrupt", "incompetent useless hobbit" and "two‑faced bitch". She was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in January 2018, with no suspended portion, and served 20 months in Dóchas women's prison. In July 2019, the Court of Appeal suspended the unserved balance of her sentence, allowing her release on condition she does not contact Howlin or related parties for five years. The appeal also rejected Doherty's claim that evidence was unlawfully obtained under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, stating the data was not personal and did not breach her rights. Doherty remains suspended from Gardaí and her salary has been terminated.
Nicolae Vlad, a 28-year-old Romanian national, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence occurred on September 13, 2018, at Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, following a controlled delivery operation where gardaí intercepted a package from Spain containing €80,000 in cannabis. Vlad was observed acting suspiciously near the delivery address and was arrested after signing for the parcel. He admitted to being paid €2,000 to collect the package, though he claimed ignorance of its contents. Vlad pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year custodial sentence. The final year of the sentence was suspended on the condition that Vlad leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release and not return for ten years. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted Vlad's custody since September and his lack of income at the time of the offence. The court noted Vlad's history of eleven previous convictions, primarily for road traffic offences. This report reflects the sentencing outcome following the guilty plea, with the specific conditions of the suspended portion clearly defined by the judge.
Eve Doherty, 51, a detective sergeant in An Garda Síochána, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The harassment involved sending abusive letters and emails to Howlin's home, workplace and GP, calling her "corrupt", "incompetent useless hobbit" and "two‑faced bitch". Doherty denied the charge and was acquitted on two counts of making false statements. She was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in January 2018. Doherty has appealed the severity of the sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing that prison is more difficult for her as a Garda and that no suitable open prison exists for women. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The case highlights the seriousness of harassment of public officials.
Philip Kernan, aged 48, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with two years suspended for assault causing harm after a 45‑minute attack on his former partner, Angela Bissett, in her caravan in Donabate, Co. Dublin. Kernan repeatedly kicked Bissett in the face and head about 20 times, attempted strangulation, and dragged her back to the caravan after she had fled. He also demanded sex and threatened to "finish her off" if she sought help. Bissett suffered severe facial swelling, a cut lip, a wrist fracture and required 14 sutures. Kernan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 4 September 2016. In a victim impact statement, Bissett described ongoing fear and physical scars. Kernan's defence highlighted no prior violent convictions and claimed the incident was isolated, citing a history of abuse and post‑traumatic stress. The court imposed the sentence as stated.
Michal Wojciak, 36, of Ridgewood Grove, Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at the District Court and was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year prison term. The offence involved over 4,000 images and videos, seized from his former home in Sandyford on 19 September 2012, and later analysed in August 2016, revealing 681 videos and 3,873 images of pre‑teen and teenage girls in sexual activities. Wojciak admitted the possession, denied actively seeking the material, and cooperated fully with Gardaí, providing all requested items and information. He has no prior convictions, and a probation report and psychologist's assessment deemed him low risk of re‑offending. The judge ordered him to maintain good behaviour, remain under probation supervision, participate in a sex‑offender treatment programme, and avoid contact with any child under 18 except in the presence of a parent or guardian.
Eve Doherty, a former detective sergeant, has lost her appeal against a conviction for harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards alongside President Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, upheld the jury's finding of guilt from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Doherty was originally found guilty of harassing Ms Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 by sending abusive letters and emails. She had denied the charge but was found not guilty on two separate counts of making false statements in March 2012. In January 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Doherty to three years imprisonment, describing the communications as containing outright and "scurrilous" lies. Doherty's legal team argued that evidence obtained under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 was inadmissible because the Act breached EU law, and that the trial judge erred regarding the definition of harassment and the exclusion of certain documents. The Court of Appeal rejected these grounds, ruling that the retained data did not constitute Doherty's personal data and that her privacy rights were not breached. The judgment dismissed all appeals, thereby upholding the original conviction and sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michal Wojciak, 36, admitted possession of over 4,000 child pornography images and videos, all discovered during a forensic analysis in August 2016. The material, seized from his Swords apartment in 2012, included 681 videos and 3,873 images depicting preteen and teenage girls in sexual activities, some with adults, and a 24‑minute video of a preteen masturbating. Wojciak denied actively searching for such material but acknowledged possession. He had no prior convictions and had lost his job in 2018. The court ordered him to remain on bail until 31 May, with the preparation of forensic psychological and probation reports requested by counsel. The case highlighted Gardaí's use of peer‑to‑peer monitoring and the delay in forensic analysis due to resource constraints. The hearing focused on the admission of guilt and the procedural steps pending before any sentencing. Michal Wojciak pleaded guilty.
Mark Connolly, 44, a father of three, was sentenced to five years in prison, with two-and-a-half years suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing €311,000 that he believed was the proceeds of drug dealing. He admitted to collecting the cash to pay off a €4,000 cocaine debt, having been paid €300 for each of six runs. Gardaí found €291,790 hidden behind a panel in a wardrobe in a rented Dublin apartment, plus an additional €19,950 in a rucksack. Connolly had been given keys, a phone and instructions on where and when to collect the money. He acknowledged the money likely came from drugs, but claimed he had not transported drugs himself. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, financial pressure and low risk of re‑offending, and gave him credit for his post‑arrest conduct and counselling. The sentence was imposed by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Eve Doherty, 50, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 by sending abusive letters and emails. She was convicted of harassing a State solicitor and was sentenced to three years imprisonment in January 2018. Doherty was found not guilty on two counts of making false statements in March 2012, where she claimed Ms Howlin was perverting the course of justice. She has appealed her conviction on more than a dozen grounds, including that the State retained her data under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, which she argues was "doomed" under EU law. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The appeal focuses on the legality of the data used by the prosecution and the alleged breach of EU privacy directives. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced.
Eve Doherty, a former detective sergeant, moved to appeal her conviction for harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin. Doherty was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sending abusive letters and emails to Ms Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. She was found not guilty on two counts of making false statements. In January 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Doherty to three years imprisonment, describing the communications as containing outright and "scurrilous" lies. Doherty, who maintains her innocence, argued that the conviction should be overturned because the State retained technical evidence, including a static IP address and data from a Canadian server, under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. Her counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that this Act was "doomed" and breached EU law, which had been struck down by European Courts. He submitted that the trial judge erred in failing to exclude this evidence, as well as other documents and an email regarding the Garda Commissioner, citing privacy breaches and lack of authorship proof. The appeal panel, led by President George Birmingham, heard that the 2011 Act was the law of the land at the time of the alleged offences. The matter was adjourned, with the DPP's counsel, Kerida Naidoo SC, scheduled to make submissions on Thursday next.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Donna Kirwan, daughter of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, said her father was only guilty of "showing respect" at a childhood friend's funeral. She described him as a hard‑working "grafter" who chose legitimate work over drug sales. The court heard that both her son and daughter contemplated suicide after their father's murder. The victim impact statement was read by a woman from victim support on behalf of Donna. The court also heard that Jason Keating, 27, was present at the scene and facilitated the shooting. Keating had a tracking device on Kirwan's car and was linked to the assailant. Keating pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder, and the State withdrew the murder charge, leaving only the facilitation charge pending. The hearing took place before the sentencing of Keating, who was remanded in custody until December 12.
Beacon One Management Company Ltd, representing about 70 Dublin apartment residents, has filed a High Court action against Beacon Leisure Investments Ltd, the operator of the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford Business Park. The residents argue they have long enjoyed direct access to the hotel through shared doors on several floors, using facilities such as the gym and lifts, including a wheelchair‑user resident who relied on the right of way when his apartment lifts failed. The hotel operators plan to replace the existing doors with fire doors, which would restrict residents' access except in emergencies. The management company seeks orders to prevent the hotel from interfering with or restricting the right of way between the premises. Permission to serve short notice of the proceedings was granted ex‑parte by Justice Leonie Reynolds, and the case will return to court later this month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37) pleaded guilty to possessing 52 cloned credit cards and to making false payments, including a €3,400 purchase of a ring for Lupu and attempts to buy two mobile phones and two watches. The pair had used the cloned cards at Dom Marmion car park on 25 June 2018. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Lupu to two years' imprisonment, suspended, with the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan received a two‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended, taking into account his good work record and custody of two dependent children. Both defendants now live in the United Kingdom. The court noted that the offence was serious, but Lupu's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and motherhood were mitigating factors. The couple's relationship ended after the arrest.
Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37), both from the United Kingdom, were arrested on 25 June 2018 in Dublin for possessing 52 cloned credit cards and for making false payments. They used the cards to buy a €3,400 ring, two mobile phones and two watches. Lupu pleaded guilty to each count and was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to two years' imprisonment per count, suspended on the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan's sentencing was adjourned to 19 November 2018. Garda Karl O'Neill described how the pair were stopped at a shopping centre, followed to a car park, and searched, revealing the cards. The couple had arrived from the UK the day before to visit friends and family, but their relationship ended after the arrest.
The trial of Jason Keating, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Expert witness Professor David Last testified regarding a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo. The prosecution alleges the tracker was placed under the vehicle to monitor movements leading up to the December 22, 2016, shooting in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Professor Last explained that the device recorded its position 'much more frequently' from 3.13pm on the day of the shooting, indicating the owner was actively commanding location requests. He detailed the device's journey from France to Dublin Port in October 2016, noting it appeared near St Ronan's Drive on December 21 and 22. Under cross-examination, the expert acknowledged that such devices are commonly used to track spouses and that location data can contain errors. The court heard that Mr Kirwan, a 62-year-old with no connection to the criminal factions involved in the alleged feud, was shot six times while sitting in his car with his partner, Bernadette Roe. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Stefan Condurovici, a 32‑year‑old former professional footballer from Romania, was jailed for five months after using six cloned payment cards to buy a pair of runners and toiletries. He was arrested in Dublin on 25 June after Gardaí discovered him and three others in possession of 52 cloned cards at a car park near Dundrum Town Centre. Condurovici pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing cloned cards. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 18 months in prison, with 13 months suspended, backdated to the day of his arrest. She ordered him to leave Ireland within seven days of release and not to return for ten years. Condurovici had made modest purchases totalling about €200 and had cooperated fully with Gardaí. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions and his sporting background. The case highlighted the seriousness of cloned card offences.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was murdered on 22 December 2016 outside his Clondalkin home after being shot six times by Jason Keating, 27, who pleaded not guilty. Kirwan was driving a Ford Mondeo when the assailant, armed with a Makarov pistol, fired at him. Kirwan's partner, Bernadette Roe, was present but unharmed. The prosecution presented evidence that a tracking device had been attached to Kirwan's car weeks before the killing, showing movements from London to Dublin and eventually to St Ronan's Drive. CCTV footage linked a Renault Megane, owned by Keating, to a car auction and a white Peugeot van used by the gunman. The case was presented as circumstantial, with the court to hear further evidence over a four‑week trial.
Joseph Shannon, 46, had 38 prior burglary convictions and used the DART and LUAS to "case" homes before breaking in. He pleaded guilty to eight burglaries in Dublin between April and August 2014 and was originally sentenced to three years, with all but 14 weeks suspended, by Judge Petria McDonnell on 11 April 2016. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient." In the Court of Appeal, Judge John Edwards re‑sentenced Shannon to three years imprisonment on each count, with the final nine months of each suspended, and backdated the sentence to account for the 14 weeks spent on remand. The new term is two years and three months, and Shannon must enter a good‑behaviour bond. The court noted his relapse after the initial suspension and his failure to take the opportunities for rehabilitation that had been offered. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel including Judges George Birmingham and Alan Mahon.
Patrick Stokes, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to arson, assault, false imprisonment and other offences. He set fire to his partner Louise Kavanagh's home in February 2017, causing €21,000 in damage, and later threatened to kill her, their six‑month‑old baby and himself if she left him. Stokes held Kavanagh's throat, threatened to rape her, and held a knife to the baby's chest while she tried to protect the child. He also punched her ribs and threatened to slit her and the baby's throat with a broken wine bottle. Kavanagh suffered a black eye and rib injuries and described the assault as terrifying. The judge noted Stokes' violent background, substance abuse and loss of control, and accepted his apology and desire to reform. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Harton (41) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for falsely imprisoning his then‑wife, Amy Harton, at their Sandyford home on 16 February 2017. Harton also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and possession of cocaine on the same date. The court heard that Harton had forced Amy back into the house after she tried to escape, threatened her with a knuckle‑duster, and produced a handgun he claimed was functional, though it was later found to be a fake. During a two‑hour stand‑off with the Garda emergency response unit, Harton swallowed pills and took cocaine. He eventually released Amy after she unlocked her phone for him and then surrendered to Gardaí. Harton has nine prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has been relocated to County Wexford under bail conditions.
A detective sergeant of An Garda Siochana, Eve Doherty, aged 50, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The harassment consisted of abusive letters and emails sent to Howlin's home, workplace and GP, calling her a "corrupt bitch", an "incompetent useless hobbit" and a "two‑faced bitch". Doherty also distributed leaflets around Howlin's housing estate, falsely claiming Howlin was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect those connected to her or the government. She was found not guilty of two counts of making false statements in March 2012. Doherty was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The judge noted that Doherty maintained her innocence, showed no remorse, and was considered at low risk of re‑offending. She had no prior convictions and was suspended from the force but remained a serving member.
In a June 2016 incident at Cafe En Seine in Dublin, 42‑year‑old Oleksander Zavhorodniy punched French bar‑goer Guillaune Demarest repeatedly, striking him in the head and throat. The assault fractured Demarest's oesophagus and required eight stitches for a forehead wound, leading doctors to place him in a medically‑induced coma for 16 days. Zavhorodniy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He brought €4,000 in compensation, which Demarest accepted. Judge Patricia Ryan, noting Zavhorodniy's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and his staying at the bar until Gardaí arrived, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for two years under conditions, with the judge urging good behaviour and caution against attracting Gardaí attention during the suspension period.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally ordered that Eve Doherty, 50, be remanded in custody next Monday ahead of her sentencing on January 19. Doherty, a detective sergeant with An Garda Síochána, was found guilty by a jury of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The jury found her not guilty of two counts of making false statements in March 2012. The trial heard that Doherty sent abusive letters and emails to Ms Howlin, her workplace, and her GP, using anonymous accounts from an internet café. Judge Greally stated that a custodial sentence is "inevitable," citing Doherty's lack of a guilty plea and evident remorse. The judge rejected the defence's request for a community service sentence, despite character references and a psychological report detailing Doherty's severe work-related stress, depression, and anxiety. Doherty has no previous convictions and was suspended from the force but remains a serving member. She was ordered to organise her affairs before being placed into custody on Monday morning.
Keith Byrne, 32, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €300 worth of cannabis herb and making threats to kill or seriously harm staff at Bewleys Hotel, Sandyford, on 15 February 2014. Byrne, who had 44 prior convictions, threatened staff, saying he had a barrister on speed dial and would slit a staff member "from ear to ear." He also threatened to stab a staff member with a screwdriver after the staff member had the bag of cannabis. Byrne had completed a residential rehabilitation programme and a favourable probation report was presented. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the violent conduct but also the rehabilitation, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended for two years on strict conditions, deciding that incarceration would be counter‑productive at this stage.
Helen Hourigan, aged 34, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing a Mercedes‑Benz and causing criminal damage to Ross Kelly's Volkswagen Beetle. On 9 January 2015, she stole the Mercedes when its owner left it unlocked and drove it at speed into Mr Kelly's vehicle, then reversed it into the smoking area of the Dropping Well Pub in Milltown, Dublin. She smashed a glass partition and pinned Mr Kelly against a wall before driving off. Mr Kelly was injured and taken to hospital. Hourigan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of her sentence, citing her dangerous driving and the injuries sustained by Mr Kelly and his wife, and noted that she had taken steps to address her addiction. She is due for release in August.
Pierce Hilliard, a 32‑year‑old former resident of Ballyogan Green, Carrickmines, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for possessing 1.48 kg of heroin in Sandyford Road, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. He admitted that he had agreed to transport more than €200,000 worth of heroin to raise a deposit for a new flat, describing the act as one of desperation. Hilliard's daughter was in care and he claimed he was trying to secure a home to better look after her. He had 84 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, but no previous drug convictions or links to the drug trade. Gardaí had set up a surveillance operation that caught him placing the drugs in a shopping bag in a car park. He pleaded guilty, took full responsibility, and the court accepted his explanation that he had agreed to transport the drugs for monetary gain.
In 2011, 26‑year‑old Stacy Lennon slipped on a wet floor in a disabled toilet at the Fun Fitness Total Fitness Complex in Sandyford, Dublin, and landed heavily on her left hand. She was told by her manager to turn off a hand‑dryer power switch, after which she fell. Lennon sued her former employer, Fun Fitness Ltd, alleging negligence and breach of duty for allowing the floor to be wet and failing to provide a safe system of work. The case was heard only for damages; the company had since gone into liquidation and its defence was struck out. Mr Justice Anthony Barr found that Lennon suffered carpal tunnel syndrome in her left wrist, a condition caused by the fall, and that the injury severely limited her employment prospects. He awarded her €32,000 in damages plus costs. The judgment was made in default of the defendant's appearance.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Keith Byrne, aged 32 and with 44 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of €300 worth of cannabis and to making threats to kill or seriously harm staff at Bewleys Hotel, Sandyford, on 15 February 2014. Byrne, who had threatened staff with a screwdriver and said he would "murder" them, is now in a residential rehabilitation program at New Hope in Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to 3 October 2017, stating that if Byrne continues to make progress in treatment and engages in services, the court would consider a non‑custodial resolution. The judge noted Byrne's current rehabilitation and the possibility of a non‑custodial outcome if he maintains his progress. The case remains pending, with no jail sentence imposed at this stage.
A High Court action brought by Dr Eddie O'Donnell, a consultant obstetrician at Waterford Regional Hospital, against Ocean Vehicle Trading Ltd and its director, Oisin Legaspi, has been resolved. Dr O'Donnell alleged that he traded in his Ferrari California to part-finance the purchase of a 2012 McLaren MP4 12C, which he claimed he never received. The failure to deliver the vehicle or provide a refund led to temporary High Court freezing orders preventing the defendants from reducing their assets below €150,000. Counsel for the defendants, Yvonne O'Gara Bl, informed Mr Justice Paul Gilligan that the parties had reached an agreement involving payments to Dr O'Donnell. Consequently, the court struck out the case. The dispute originated in 2013 when Dr O'Donnell purchased the Ferrari from Mr Legaspi. In June, Dr O'Donnell agreed to trade the Ferrari for the McLaren. Although Mr Legaspi assured him the car was en route in August, it never arrived. Dr O'Donnell subsequently discovered the Ferrari had been sold in the UK for €137,300 through a dissolved company. He also found that the defendants' registered address in Sandyford was merely a post box, with no active trade conducted from the location.
Amy McAuley, 26, pleaded guilty in 2015 to stealing €132,355 from Nordzucker Ireland Ltd between July 2013 and February 2014. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a wholly suspended two‑year sentence, requiring her to stay out of trouble and make full restitution within ten years. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence, rejecting the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that it was unduly lenient. The appeal cited the ingenuity of the theft, its connection to a prior €90,000 theft that had been fully repaid, and the significant breach of trust. The court noted McAuley's youth, self‑reporting, early guilty plea, remorse, partial restitution, and her status as an accomplished musician. It modified the repayment schedule, setting 30 % of the debt due within five years, another 30 % within seven‑and‑a‑half years, and the balance by ten years, with €30,000 already paid and €102,000 outstanding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 56‑year‑old Colm Lawless was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he pointed a realistic imitation gun at Garda Gary Farrell and his partner. Lawless, suffering from bipolar disorder and in a manic phase, had stopped his medication and was experiencing severe delusions, believing he was the head of a "Jerusalem secret service" and on a mission from God. He threatened to shoot himself if the gardaí did not return his keys. The jury, instructed by Judge Sarah Berkeley, returned a special verdict after 46 minutes. Lawless will be sent to the Central Mental Hospital for a 14‑day assessment, with a doctor to report a treatment plan on February 22. The incident involved two pepper‑sprays that had no effect, and Lawless was later arrested and taken to hospital. He later admitted to buying the gun as a curiosity item and apologized to the officers.
Mina Fanous, an Egyptian engineer who claimed he had fled after a bomb attack killed his wife and child, was found guilty of assaulting his flatmate Jiagua Chen with a belt, stealing her Samsung phone and damaging her laptop in Sandyford, Dublin, on 20 April 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Fanous had a prior minor theft conviction. The case had been adjourned twice; he was released on bail to gather evidence of his claim. An email from his defence lawyer proved he was still entitled to live in the apartment at the time of the assault. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged his legal right to remain there and noted his belief that he was defending his rights, though she found his admissions unclear. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the balance, taking into account time already spent in custody.
An Egyptian engineer, Mina Fanous, 35, who says he came to Ireland after his wife and child were killed in a bomb attack in Alexandria, has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex‑flatmate, Jiagua Chen, on 20 April 2015. Fanous struck Chen with a belt, stole her Samsung phone and caused damage to her laptop. He also had a prior minor theft conviction. The incident occurred at a rented apartment on Time Place, Corrig Road, Sandyford, Dublin, where Chen had expected a friend to call over. After the assault, Chen fled but returned with a friend to find Fanous on the sofa; she later discovered her phone missing and her laptop had been thrown out the window. Garda Paul Newport reported that Fanous had lost his job at Dell months before the incident and had moved out of the flat due to rent problems. He claimed the assault was self‑defence.
Michael Doran, aged 29, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of offences committed in 2009. He pleaded guilty to two robberies, one hijacking, one car theft and one theft of car keys in the Dundrum area of south Dublin. On 12 March 2009 he mugged David Morgan, taking his ATM card, €10 and PIN, and threatened him with a knife, claiming a friend would follow him with a sniper rifle to prevent him from calling the Gardaí. Three days later he was involved in the theft of a car belonging to Caroline Caffrey, using stolen keys. He also participated in a hijacking of a pizza delivery man's vehicle. Doran had 11 prior convictions and had recently completed a four‑year sentence in England for a car‑theft offence. The judge cited his efforts at rehabilitation and his time spent in UK prison as reasons for suspending part of the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 26‑year‑old Amy McAuley of Ledwidge Hall, Slane pleaded guilty to stealing €132,355 from Nordzucker Ireland Ltd between 23 July 2013 and 26 February 2014. The thefts were carried out while she was a credit controller on maternity leave, using the distributor's bank details to divert client payments. McAuley later admitted the crimes to her father, who helped transfer €10,000 back to the company. She claimed she used part of the stolen money to repay €91,113 she had taken from a previous employer to support her family. The court noted her repeated offending but also her willingness to repay, and Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended for ten years, with a requirement to continue repayments. The sentence was not to be enforced unless she failed to meet the repayment plan.